The enigmatic Boilermakers turned in a 7-4 season that had the potential to be so much more. Purdue entered the Michigan game 4-0 and ranked 12th in the country, but Drew Brees was handcuffed by the U-M defense and the Boilers suffered a 38-12 defeat. After that, Purdue seemed to have trouble finding a way to win, losing to Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin by a combined 16 points. Brees missed on four chances from the 12-yard line in the fourth quarter against Penn State. Nonetheless, Purdue was selected for the Outback Bowl against Georgia on New Year's Day.
BEST WIN
After losing a heartbreaker at Ohio State, Purdue bounced back in a big way with a 52-28 shellacking of Michigan State. The nationally televised game was not only a showcase for Drew Brees, but for the Boilermakers as a team. It was a good, solid victory over a good team.
WORST LOSS
Brees will forever wish he could replay just one of those four downs from the 12-yard line in the final quarter of a 31-25 loss to Penn State at home.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYERS
Offense: Hard to pick a more important offensive player than Brees, a Heisman Trophy finalist. The junior, who has already announced that he will return to Purdue next year, threw for 3,531 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. If he doesn't win the Heisman this year, and he probably won't, Brees will surely enter the 2000 season as one of the favorites.
Defense: After Rosevelt Colvin graduated, Purdue was in desperate need of a pass rusher. Hello, Akin Ayodele. The junior college transfer gave the Boilermakers a big man to put pressure on the ball. Ayodele finished with 18 tackles for losses, including 9.5 sacks.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
Offense: Brees is outstanding. No doubt about it. But there is a vulnerability to the junior quarterback. Of his 11 interceptions, five were taken back for touchdowns, an extraordinary number. Purdue was eighth in the country in total offense and, surprisingly, ran for 128 yards a game. That might not sound like a lot, but it was quite effective at times when opposing teams laid back in a deep zone. The offensive line is an outstanding pass-block unit.
Defense: Shaky. Purdue allowed 25 points per game and was last in the Big Ten in pass defense, allowing 225.8 yards per game. Coach Joe Tiller has been masterful in bringing the wide open passing game to the Big Ten, and pulling the conference -- albeit kicking and screaming -- into the 1990s just when it is time to turn the millennium. Nonetheless, Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter is a special talent, and Tiller might have to work some magic on his defense before January 1.
Special teams: Junior Vinny Sutherland is the Big Ten's best punt returner. Sutherland took two back for touchdowns this year, and he averages 17.8 yards every time he fields a punt. Kicker Travis Dorsch has to do better than the 64 percent average on field goals.
Yahoo! Sports
